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Chapter – 31
“About that…”
About what?
“It’s somehow…”
Somehow what?!
“It keeps getting on my nerves. It’s annoying. It keeps catching my eye for no reason.”
“Hmm. I see.”
Hudson felt vaguely puzzled, but he nodded for the time being.
However.
“And more than that, when I watch him… There’s absolutely no way he’s Contiève’s bloodline, but I impulsively think, ‘Should I just believe he’s blood-related?’ I’ve only met him twice, for goodness’ sake.”
Huh?
“When the kid stares at me with wide eyes, I feel like saying, ‘Fine! You can be the Pantaiève heir!’ Doesn’t that sound insane? That he makes me want to play along with Contiève’s tricks?!”
Hudson was immediately bewildered.
‘…The one acting childish right now seems to be you, former Duke.’
All he could do was clamp his mouth shut tight to keep those words from spilling out. His mouth kept twitching, so later he just blocked it with his hand.
Regardless, Carlos’s words continued. By now, it wasn’t even directed at Hudson anymore, closer to a monologue.
“How can someone break down a person’s defenses so quickly? Is that even possible? Could he be a spy sent by the temple or a dark mage…?”
“…….”
“And the kid looks suspiciously soft and squishy. Is it even possible for a person to look like cotton candy? In all the wide world, he’s the first child this cute since our own grandchildren!”
Following this, as he repeated, “Suspicious, suspicious…,” he widened his eyes and glared at Hudson.
“What do you think?”
“…About what?”
“That suspicious cotton candy! Couldn’t he be infiltrating the ducal house on someone’s orders to disarm everyone completely and then… maybe steal the family’s secrets or something. Huh? What do you think?”
What do I think?
‘…It seems Lord Carlos has taken a liking to the Young Lady.’
It seems he’s struggling to admit it and is trying hard to ignore it. Ah, I think a term for this symptom was mentioned in a book the Young Lady was reading.
‘Denial phase after falling for a character?’
Yeah, I think that was the term.
Recalling that slightly awkward term, Hudson gave an equally awkward nod as he replied.
“Yes. Well, we can’t completely rule out that possibility…”
“What?! Are you in your right mind?! Do you think that little runt could possibly work as a spy?!”
“…Wow. I want to quit.”
Leaving behind Hudson, who was muttering dazedly, the former Duke tapped the floor with his cane.
Tap, tap, tap.
“Hmph. I see no other way then. Though it’s a bother, I’ll have no choice but to monitor that cotton candy myself.”
His voice held a hum as rhythmic as the tapping beat.
“For thorough surveillance, I’ll have no choice but to stay close to the runt for a while.”
Hah. This is really.
“What a nuisance! That Contiève brat is going to be the death of me with all this trouble!”
The corner of his mouth, which was saying it was a nuisance, wouldn’t stop twitching.
Watching the twitching mouth that seemed ready to ascend to heaven, Hudson quietly pulled out the stomach medicine from his pocket.
Sigh, this darn job.
I really will quit someday!
Chapter – 05
“Candy, cookies… And a book, so I won’t get bored… Hmm, it should be a fairy tale. The thinnest one.”
It couldn’t be too heavy, after all.
Learning the same lesson twice was more than enough.
After checking my belongings a couple of times, I packed everything into the teddy bear backpack that Eina had given me.
“Ungh!”
Perfect. It’s nice and light!
With the backpack slung over my shoulders, I stepped out of my room.
Today, I was finally going to meet Louis.
‘I even found out where he usually is.’
According to the maids, Louis practiced swordsmanship in the duke’s backyard every day.
‘I’ll cheer him on while he trains, tell him how cool he is, and bribe him with snacks…’
I busily hurried along on my short little legs.
“Backyard. Backyard…”
How long had I been walking like that?
Step, step… pause.
Step, step… pause.
I kept stopping every few steps.
‘…W-What’s going on? Why are they staring at me?’
It was because of the intense gaze drilling into my back.
The presence was far too overwhelming to ignore.
Besides, it wasn’t someone I could simply pretend not to notice.
‘Hmm…’
After thinking for a moment, I spun around and scampered toward the owner of that gaze.
Then—
“Hello, Gwandpa!”
I gave a polite bow to the former duke, who had been fiercely spying on me from behind a pillar.
The former duke flinched for a brief moment before calmly nodding as though nothing had happened.
Still, there was an unmistakable awkwardness about him.
“Ahem… Where are you off to with that bag?”
“To da backyard.”
“The backyard? Whatever for?”
“To see Big Bwother Louis! I’m gonna cheer for his sword twaining!”
“Hmph. Come to think of it, Louis did say he trains alone in the backyard.”
He muttered quietly before narrowing his eyes at me.
“So you’re on your way to scout Louis, is that it?”
“Yes… huh?”
I almost answered automatically before tilting my head.
Scout…?
That wasn’t really the right word here, was it?
Was he misunderstanding something?
“I-I don’t know what scouting means.”
Even though I denied it as quickly as I could, his narrowed eyes didn’t soften.
‘I need to change the subject somehow…’
Ah!
I had just the thing.
I quickly slipped the backpack off my shoulders.
Squatting on the ground, I eagerly rummaged through it.
“What are you doing now?”
“Looking for your pwesent, Gwandpa.”
“…A present for me?”
“Yes! Gwandpa’s pwesent… Ah, here!”
I found it at just the right moment.
It was a good thing I’d packed it, thinking I might run into him.
Carefully making sure the paper wouldn’t get wrinkled, I gently pulled it from my bag and held it out to him.
“Melony dwew dis.”
“……”
Without saying a word, the former duke stared down at the paper before reaching out to take it.
His sharp blue eyes slowly examined the drawing.
“…You drew this yourself?”
“Yes. I wanted to give it to you, Gwandpa.”
My heart pounded.
‘I hope he likes it.’
When he didn’t respond right away, I grew nervous and let out a silly, awkward smile.
Thankfully, his reaction wasn’t bad.
“Hm. It’s not bad at all. You’re quite skilled.”
“Hehe. Thank you.”
This time, my smile was genuine.
Maybe it was because I’d never been praised before I regressed, but every compliment made the corners of my mouth lift on their own.
“So you have talent for art? To draw this well… Perhaps you should study painting in the future. Do you want to become an artist?”
The former duke murmured to himself with surprising seriousness before carefully rolling up the drawing.
“Ahem. Ahem.”
After his habitual cough, he finally spoke again.
“You said you were going to the backyard.”
“Yes. I’m going to da backyard.”
“If someone receives a gift, it’s only proper to return the favor. Is there anything you want?”
“No. Nuffing.”
At my firm answer, his brow twitched into a frown before relaxing again.
“You’re not about to say you don’t need anything, like toys or clothes, the way you did yesterday… are you?”
“No, it’s not dat…”
The ducal estate truly lacked for nothing.
Warm meals.
More clothes than anyone could ever wear.
Delicious desserts and toys.
Even books just for me.
Even if I never said I wanted something, everyone seemed determined to place it into my hands.
Just like this teddy bear backpack.
‘But refusing his kindness feels rude too…’
Hmm…
After pondering for a moment, I cautiously stretched out my hand.
“And what exactly are you doing now?”
“…My hand.”
“Your hand?”
“I wanna hold your hand.”
“You want to hold my hand?”
I nodded.
“Pwease take me to da backyard, Gwandpa.”
His large hand twitched slightly in midair.
Not wanting to miss my chance, I reached up even higher, trying to grab it.
“Ungh…”
‘I can’t reach.’
I even stood on tiptoe, straining with all my might, but it was hopeless.
The former duke’s arms, as huge as a bear’s, were frustratingly high above me.
And my own arms and legs were frustratingly short.
“Hup! Hnnng!”
I was still struggling all by myself when—
“Pfft.”
A burst of laughter sounded from above my head.
